I was just doing some bill paying and checking some accounts. As of right now, the combined balance of my four credit cards is under $400. Heck, I might as well pay them off next month.

I guess in some ways it's good to have bad credit. I was really irresponsible and moved out of my parents' house when I couldn't very well afford it. As a result, I was pretty much prevented from getting myself in any kind of debt. Over the last seven years my credit has been steadily improving -- I managed to get approved for a car loan, and I get credit card offers in the mail almost daily. But even so, the combined limits of all my current credit accounts is only around $3,000. I use my debit card for just about everything, even major purchases. And one of the reasons I have extra cash on hand is that I don't have significant credit card payments! I think everyone I know who has really great credit is completely buried by their debt. Given the choice, I guess I'm better off.

I'm in that same boat. My mom coerced me into screwing up my credit by getting me to get credit cards in my name so that she could get stuff for her and for my sisters (and since for them it was stuff like school clothes, I felt obligated to), and then never paid anything full or on time.

And I emulated such behavior, as when I moved out, I was fuck-all poor and very money-stupid.

I've been credit-card free for nearly four years now. I have student loan debt to deal with, but every time I see one of those commercials where people talk about how they "are lucky" to get a reduced monthly payment on their credit card bills, I'm just glad I can (barely) make due without them.

Different situation, but, yeah, preach on, brotha-man. If you do pay off your cards, congrats.